Precast block and wall construction



Aug. 20, 1963 D, H, JO'HNSQN 3,100,953

PRECAST BLOCK AND'WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15. 19Go I I 73 6 ff 6@ Ta E TTORNEYJ' 3,100,953 PRECAST BLGCK AND WALL CDNSTRUCTN Delbert H. Johnson, 4344 Rose Lane, Concord, Calif. Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 3,742 3 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 424) This invention generally relates to precast concrete blocks and to the `art of constructing wall-s therewith, and is more particularly directed towards a wall construction formed of a number of interlocking blocks or similar elements.

The idea `of constructing walls :or other structural members by means of separate blocks which are anchored together in sorne suitable manner has been suggested -by numerous prior patents. However, `such patents and the methods disclosed therein have failed to disclose any commercially practical blocks `or system for performing the foregoing while still `retaining the beneits of a monolithic type of construction. p

It is accordingly an object o-f the present invention to provide -a wall which is formed of a number of individual precast novel block elements, such elements being interconnected -and secured together in a manner to provide a wall possessing superior strength characteristics.

Another `object of the invention is to provide a vwall construction as above described in which the respective blo-ck elements comprising the wall are disposed in general-ly spaced relation so that upon completion of the wall structure the same possesses a space extending between the opposed elements for the reception of plumbing, electrical conduits or other members, or which may be subsequently iilled with concrete cr other flowablematerial lafter completion of the structure. w

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel building block for use in a wall` or the like in which advantage, some Vof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description 4of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in. the drawing accom-` panying and `forming part of the specioation. It is to be understood, Vhowever,that variations in the showingmade bythe said drawing and description maybe adopted with- Referring to said drawing: u FIGURE l is a perspective View of :the building block in the scope ofthe invention asset forth in the claims.

of the present invention. f i

FlGURE 2 is a front elevational view ywith portions broken away of a section oi a wall constructed with the blocks shownV inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is across sectionaliplan view ofthe VWall on an enlarged scale yand taken substantially in the plane p ,opposite edges 16 and 18 of the block and each comprises `a 90 degree segment withlthe'ir outer faces 37` and 38 3,100,953 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 the outer surfaces of the wall as shown in FIGURE 3. Extending generally normally `from the base surface 6` `are a plurality of short projections or pegs 7, such pegs being 'adapted to cooperate with `the pegs of opposed blocks when the blocks are brought into cooperative interengaging relationship. While there are various` cross-sectional shapes that the projections might assume, the particular cylindrical segment `for-m presently to be described has been tou-nd to be particularly advantageous from both 'a manufacturing and constructional standpoint. With the arrangement disclosed herein, when the blocks rare interenga-gcd, the pegs of the various blocks will cooperate -to define 'a cylindrical post member which may be readily locked or tied in position. Accordingly, it will be noted -that all ofthe projections comprise ninety degree segments of cylinders. i

Commencing with the central portion of the block, two such segments 8 and 9 are provided and disposed in radially opposed relationship along a diagonal of the block, each having its center of curvature at the center of the block, thus leaving open areas of 90 degrees between each side of the opposed segments, fand as will be later explained in more detail various segments of other Iblocks are adapted to iit into these open spaces between the flat surfaces of the respective segments. An upper left hand projection 12 las viewed in FIGURE 1, will be seen to constitute a like 90 degree segment with the flat surfaces 13 thereof being coplanar with the edges 14 and 16 of the base and similarly -a diagonally opposite projection 17 has its flat surtaces extending along the other base edges 1S and 19. Thus, the center of curvature of each projection 12 and 17 is positioned at diagonally opposite corners of the block.

An upper central projection 2l is provided and has one flat surface 22 of the segment coplanar with edge 14- 'and the other surface 23 extending at right angles Itherefrom, and similarly a lower projection 26 has a surface 27 coplranar with the bottom edge 19 and the other sur `face 28 extending upwardlylat right angles thereto. As will be best seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the sury,faces 23 'and 28 Bof the respective segments 21 land 26` fall alonga line bisecting the central axis of-the block and it will be also observed from FIGURE 2 that a sur-face 31 of the central segment 8 and the corresponding surface 32 of the adjacent segment 9. likewise `ialllal-ongthis common line, as do the `center of curvatureof projection 8,79, 21

and 126.

.Sirnilarprojections `Stand 36 `are provided along the respectively coplanar with such edgeslandythe otherl faces "and 41 lying along a ,bsectingline extendingmlongir m'ltudinally of the base and such line including theother jsurfaces 42 and `434 of the central segments 8 and `9.`

i As hereinabovesuggested, the wall disclosed herein is` Vconstructed substantially solely :frein the` buildingpblock of the `present invention, and accordingly, reference may rst be had to FIGURE 1 of the'drawing wherein said lblock is best disclosed. Als will befseenin.` the figure,

,the block isl of generally rectangular configuration tand the corner.' half ofthe blocks` 51 and 52, with the upper has a substantiallyplenar base portion having opposed'l 1 surfaces S and 6 respectively. As will be later explained c when the block is installed -in a wall, the same will be genj eral-ly vertically disposed and Twill cooperate with lthe baseportifons of opposed blocks so las `to provide a space ,between the confronting surfaces 6, the surfacesf defining `With fthe foregoing construction mind, it Vmay-,be

now explainedsthe manner in which a wall maybe conj structed utilizing a pluralityofslich blocks.` Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a complete bloclcisfindicatedjand` designated by the numeral `50. This `block is shown `without any cooperative engagement opposed blocks so that the various projections maybereadilyj disclosed thereon., `Immediately below the block 50, but laterally `offset one-halithe` length of thesame, are similarblocks 51-and 52, andin this` case it lwillbe, seen `that fabloclt `53 `is disposedrih opposed symmetrical relationship `to "corners thereof `disposed atl the central point of" the blocks 51,1and" 5 2." 4Inother words, the block 53 over? lies or is inopposed relationship-to only one quarter of the blocks 51 `and 52. `"A similar block 56 engages another" j quarter of the block Thus, all'vof` th'e lmseportisons` l on one side of thewallfaredisposed in-coplanar relatior'r` secured together against further movement.

ship, but each of such blocks isV oifset so that one edge 16 of' a block is aligned with the central projections of the block'above and below the same. Now, however, when the opposed blocks are placed in confronting relationship with the first mentioned blocks, a corner projection of one of the blocks is placed within the opening defined by the surfaces 31 and 43 of the central segment 8 and 9. IThen, the corner of another block will occupy theother opening between the segment'surfaces 32. Vand 42 providing a complete circumferentially extending cylindrical post which will be Vsecured together in a manner presently to be described. Likewise, the other 90 degree segments will be engaged by the corner or edge segments other than the central segments 8 Vand 9, it will be .appreciated that the projection 12, for example, will if the same" only engaged one or possibly two confronting blocks. l

-With the blocks disposed as shown in FIGURE 2, the

. various projections will, as previously explained, provide substantially continuous cylindrical posts formed of projections from three or four blocks, and in this form the respective segments are particularly well adapted to be Means are provided for locking the segments together and as here illustrated, each of the arcuate portions of the respectiveV projections is provided with a peripheral groove 61 and such grooves will come into alignment when the blocks 7 are interlocked or interfitted together, thus providing a tive members together yfurther means are provided which willnow be explained. v

Again referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that `the cornersof each block in which no projections are provided, arel provided with segmental notches 64 and 6 5 is asegmental Anotch 67 and projection 36 has a 4similar indentation 68; the projections 21 and 26 have indentations |59V and 71 respectively yand in the openings between the segments?,` andj9are indentations 72 and 73. By

Way of example, the` segment 9.1 of one post may4 be respectively, andV such notches are designed to receive the 'ends of the `projectionsl which will` engage such corners. V Likewise,` adjacent the ilatfsurface39 `of projection 34 and the projections being 4 inches inV length. This will result in a total wall thickness of 8 inches with a 4 inch space between the confronting base portions which is adequate to receive most pipes or conduits which may be placed therein. Obviously, lfor corners or edges, portional blocks will be provided. Y

`What is claimed is: 1

l. A building block including a substantially rectangular planar base having a length `in excess of the width thereof, a plurality of projections extending generally normal to said base, each of said projections constituting a one-quarter segment of a cylinder, a pair of said projections being disposed with their respective centers of curvature at the center of said base and lying along a diagonal of said base with adjacent sides of the respective projections deiining a right angle, -a projection disposed at the corners of said base containingsaid diagonal with the centers of curvature at said corners, and a projection positioned at each edge ofsaid baseat the center thereof with the center of curvature being disposed at the respective edge, said latter ycentral' edge projections i veach being oriented relative to` said base substantially identically to the corner projection disposed along the samevedge as the respective central edge projection.

2. A block as setA forth in claim 1 in `whi-ch said projections are provided with peripherally extending means adapted to receive a tie Iwire for locking the projections of confronting blocks against separation in a direction axially of said projections.

3. A building block comprising a substantially rectangular planar base lhaving a length in excess of the widththereof, a plurality of stub projections extending lgenerally normal to said `base, said projections each having a pair of surfaces normal to said base and intersecting one another substantially perpendicularly to form a Vrightwangular corner, a pair of said projections each being disposed with the respective surfaces thereof positioned along'one of two medial lines ofsaid base, said medial lines being normal' to one another and each being parallel to two edges of said baseV and spaced equidistanttherefrom, said pair of projections being `disposed alonga diagonal of said base, asecond pair of projections'eachV disposed at the' corners -o'fgsaid base containing said di- Vagonal and having their surfaces extending. along the edgesof said'baseuintersecting said diagonah'and one of 'said' projections each -being `positioned at each fedgeof.

" said -base at the center .thereofrwith oneofsaidY surfaces A' i engaged in the: indentation llv'of its confronting post, the Y projection 17l being engagedy injthe groove 72, etc. Also, j

'v to provide for more ready assembly, the outer-lor distal endfof eachprojection is tapered as best shown in FIG- `URETW?, and vthe;indentationsv likewise taper from theY 'adjacentffprojection v.fiat vsur-facev to a. maximum" depth', Vremote therefrom. p Prom the foregoing,descriptiom:` both the methodVV of assembly aszwellasthe details ofconstruction'of the block 'and otth'ewall shouldbe apparent, and it will be appreeiatedV that by ,virtuefof the Vinteriitting and interlocking i 5 Vrelationship that awall may iberapidly. constructed andv the-Wall may beeither left hollow for the purpose ofA providing' conduit space orthre like, or may be subsequently i illedwith any suitable material.

lByjway of examplegorily, "the blocks'` may be; moldedv .i from-concrete andphavean `overallwdimenfsion of' 16 inches 32 inches, the baseb'eing approximately 2 inches thick extending along the respective edge and the other surface extending along .the vinediajl line intersecting; said edge,` 4said JlatterQce'ntl-,al `edge yprojections each being oriented relative to said basefsubstantiallyvidentically-to' the corner projection disposed Yalong the'same edgeas therespective" central edge projection.

References Cited-in ythe file of this patent; 

1. A BUILDING BLOCK INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR BASE HAVING A LENGTH IN EXCESS OF THE WIDTH THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS EXTENDING GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID BASE, EACH OF SAID PROJECTIONS CONSTITUTING A ONE-QUARTER SEGMENT OF A CYLINDER, A PAIR OF SAID PROJECTIONS BEING DISPOSED WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE CENTERS OF CURVATURE AT THE CENTER OF SAID BASE AND LYING ALONG A DIAGONAL OF SAID BASE WITH ADJACENT SIDES OF THE RESPECTIVE PROJECTIONS DEFINING A RIGHT ANGLE, A PROJECTION DISPOSED AT THE CORNERS OF SAID BASE CONTAINING SAID DIAGONAL WITH THE CENTERS OF CURVATURE AT SAID CORNERS, AND A PROJECTION POSI- 